December 27, 1877. J 



JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



4S7 



can the introduction of a flowering plant not a parasite have 

 to do with the matter ? If of any import the fact only need 

 be mentioned, for such cases are well known, and others of 

 very rapid spread besides Aaacharis. It is difficult to be seen 

 what inferences can be drawn from the history of Phylloxera 

 or the Colorado beetle when (if I am right) the disease has 

 never been attributed to au insect. Whether of animal or 

 vegetable life, however, it is a not uncommon occurrence for 

 rapid spread to take place iu a new country. While "Amateur" 

 has brought together and reviewed a variety of speculations, 

 it is not a little surprising that no mention is made of the 

 writings of Berkeley, De Bary, Worthiugton Smith, or others 

 who have investigated. An ounce of investigation is surely 

 worth many pounds of speculation or theory. — Peeonospoka. 



ANNUALS. 



Some years ago, before the bedding-out mania had attained 

 to the dimensions it has done, annuals received a great deal 

 of attention, but of late it is difficult in many gardens to find 

 even the very commonest. The fragrant Mignonette and Sweet 

 Pea are sometimes not thought worthy of a place, and a scent- 

 less garden from whence not a breath of perfume arises is no 

 uncommon thing. Tou may pass furlongs of ribbon bordering, 

 bed after bed of carpbt fashion, arranged in the most elaborate 

 and fantastic patterns, but from them all not one delicious 

 sense of Bcent arises ; and it is the same of course when the 

 flowers are cut for the house. Oftentimes the nosegay or 

 vasa of flowers is tastefully arranged, but the want is felt; 

 for how involuntarily when one gets near a bunch of flowers 

 does the face go down to catch the delioats perfume, which 

 in so many instances is not to be found. For this reason, 

 then, I would say a word for annuals. But there is another : 

 They afford So much variety in form and colour, that not 

 only do they please the eye when growing in the garden, 

 but also add an elegance and lightneBS to a vase of flowers 

 which the more formal trusses of Geraniums and other plants 

 used for bedding-out do not afford. Take, for example, one 

 of the very comnronest — Coreopsis ; how much of elegance do 

 a few of its brilliant-coloured fluwers give to a vase, and how 

 easily are they to be had ! In these notes I would, then, 

 plead for them, especially as skill and enterprise are continually 

 adding novelties to our lists. 



There is little need now to advocate the cause of herbaceous 

 plants, they are steadily working their own way once again 

 into favour ; but it is at the same time desirable not to overdo 

 the addition. I do not think that by a mixed border we are to 

 understand simply a collection of herbaceous plants. No : I 

 think fairly enough we may include in it bulbs in spring and 

 autumn, and annuals and Geraniums in the summer months; 

 if the latter, not enough to make their growth a burden or 

 inconvenience in the winter months. What I mean may be 

 ascertained by going into many greenhouses at this season 

 where you will find them full to overflowiag with store pots 

 of Geraniums, Heliotropes, &c, instead of plants in which cul- 

 tural skill can be displayed and varied forms of beauty be seen. 



The exhibition of annuals held by Messrs. Carter & Co. of 

 High Holborn at the Royal Botanic Society's gardens this 

 season must have opened the eyea of a good many to the forms 

 of beauty they have neglected in their rush after some novelty 

 for bedding-out ; and in the hope of inducing some of the 

 readers of the Journal to give a Bmall place in their garden to 

 some of the best of theBe I would select those which I have 

 tried in my own little garden, and which have been useful 

 either for showiness in the borders or for cutting. 



Carmine Candytuft.— A very pretty form of this old and 

 well-known favourite flower with rich carmine flowers. 



Calliopsis bicolor, atrosangninea, d-c. — Very common, but 

 very useful for cutting, especially for the top glasB of dinner- 

 table stands. 



Chrysanthemum tricolor, Burridgi, Dunnetti, die. — These 

 annual Chrysanthemums are very pretty and striking in ap- 

 pearance, enlivening a bouquet very much. 



Bianthus chinensis Heddewigi. — -There are several' forms of 

 this pretty and quaint flower, and two have been exhibited 

 this season by Messrs. Carter & Co. — viz., Easter Queen and 

 Crimson Belle, which are a great improvement on previous 

 varieties. 



Godetia Lady Albemarle. — A very beautiful novelty, having 

 flowers 4 inches across and produced in the greatest abundance ; 

 the colour a beautiful crimson with a bluish tinge on the edges 

 of the petals. 



Lcptosiphon roseus. — A charming little plant, bo dwarf that 

 it may be grown upon a rockery amongbt Alpines, and so 

 bright that it lightens it up wonderfully. 



Phlox Drummondi. — A wonderful improvement has takers 

 place in this most useful plant. The size of the flowers 

 has been increased ; and in the compact varieties — nana com- 

 pacts, rose, red, white, and violet — the Messrs. Carter have 

 overcome one of the greatest objections to them — their loose 

 and straggling habit. These flowers are alike useful to those 

 who have a mixed border or who go in for bedding-out. 



Portulaca, Single and Double. — These are very pretty, but 

 do best when in some poor soil with a good deal of lime rub- 

 bish or burnt earth. If the situation is favourable they will 

 seed freely and renew themselves yearly. 



Silene pendula compacta. — A very compact-growing form of 

 the old Silene pendula, and during the flowering season is one 

 solid mass of bloom. 



I must also refer to a very useful biennial — Campanula 

 Medium calycanthema. A very striking form of the old 

 Canterbury Bell, introduced by Messrs. Waite, Burnel), & Co., 

 some years ago. Very fine and striking in appearance. 



In what are called Gorman flower seeds there has also been 

 great improvement. What more delightful than a good bed 

 of some of the many varieties of Ten-week Stocks ? And then 

 for autumn how fine and useful are our old friends the Asters ! 

 while for brilliancy of colouring we have the very handsome 

 forms of double Zinnias and the African and French Marigolds. 

 Mr. Betteridge's Asters with their exquisite forms are very 

 valuable. Annual Larkspurs have also been greatly improved ; 

 and the candelabrum, dwarf Stock-flowered, and Emperor 

 varieties are especially good. Then of the older annuals the 

 scarlet Flax, the maDy varieties of Lupins, Schizanthus, 

 Nemophila, &a. , will readily occur to any who have taken 

 an interest iu gardens, aud it will be surely worth while to 

 renew their acquaintance with them. 



A garden of this mixed character never fails to have some 

 point of interest, and, as some one says, there are always sur- 

 prises. Things you had forgotten peep up; flowers you had 

 thought were over give you a bloom now and then unexpectedly. 

 Your beds are never quite empty ; and even in the depth of 

 winter, when days are short and clouds duil, you may find 

 something ; as, for instance, going round this morning (De- 

 cember lltb) I found a fine Bpike of Schizostylis coccinea in 

 full beauty, and the earlier varieties of Cyclamen just begin- 

 ning to show their bloom, and Crocuses beginning to peep up. 

 Expectations are quickened, and you have a sense of pleasure 

 in the thought that your garden is even now a thing of beauty, 

 and th»t it is continually returning to you something for the 

 care and love you bestow on it. — D., Deal. 



GOOSEBERRIES. 



THEIR PROPAGATION AND CULTURE. 



The Gooseberry is a native of the north of Europe. In a 

 wild state the berries are no larger than a Red Currant, but 

 when the bushes are properly cultivated immense crops of 

 large fruit are produced. The Gooseberry is one of the few 

 fruits which succeed in any soil or situation, consequently it 

 is grown, but not cultivated, in every gardens Owing to the 

 bushes producing fruit without any attention they are fre- 

 quently never touched, except, perhaps, with the garden 

 shears ; yet even when thus neglected they produce plenty of 

 fruit, but it is of a very inferior description. 



The Gooseberry is one of the easiest of all fruits to pro- 

 pagate, and the present season is the time to do it. When 

 pruning the buBhes select all the strongest Bhoots made 

 during the summer, cut them 1 foot long each. Begin at 

 the bottom and rub all the buds off exoeptiog four at thci 

 top; leave the spines on, as they assist greatly in keeping 

 the cuttings in their placus when they are inserted in the 

 ground. A quantity of leaf soil or well-decayed manure must 

 be spread over the surface. In-ert the rows of cuttings aa 

 the digging proceeds. A space of 15 inches should be allowed 

 between the rows and 4 inches between the cuttings. Let the 

 cuttings be 4 inches below the soil, whioh will leave 5 incheB of 

 clear stem between the ground and the first branch. We 

 have raised many Gooseberries in this way without losing a 

 cutting. They must not be disturbed at the root until the 

 following spring. Throughout the summer hoe between the 

 rows frequently, aud never allow them to become choked 

 with weeds. They should make shoots from 4 to 6 inches 

 long the first season. Where tho cuttings were all disbudded 



